ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland Freedom Caucus is claiming victory after Governor Wes Moore issued an executive order last week delaying implementation of California’s Advanced Clean Cars (CACC) 11 mandate by two years. The order comes in direct response to the Freedom Caucus’s January 16, 2025 letter calling for Maryland to fully withdraw from the program.
“This is a major win for the people of Maryland,” said Delegate Matt Morgan, Chair of the Maryland Freedom Caucus. “We sounded the alarm early, and now Governor Moore is backing down. This delay is proof that the Freedom Caucus is delivering real results for working families and small businesses.”
The CACC 11 mandate, modeled after California’s extreme environmental regulations, would have forced 43% of all new cars sold in Maryland by model year 2027 to be electric—despite EVs making up less than 10% of vehicles on Maryland roads and consumer demand continuing to drop. The Freedom Caucus’s letter warned that the mandate would cripple local auto dealerships, burden consumers with unaffordable vehicle choices, and force residents to rely on a charging infrastructure that does not yet exist.
“Governor Moore’s delay is welcome—but it doesn’t go far enough,” said Delegate Mark Fisher. “We should follow Governor Youngkin’s lead in Virginia and fully separate from California’s Clean Car mandate. Marylanders shouldn’t have their vehicle choices dictated by an unelected board located 3,000 miles away in Sacramento.”
The Freedom Caucus also noted promising developments at the federal level. “In conversations with our federal partners, it’s clear that President Donald Trump will soon end all federal EV mandates and rescind the CACC 11 waiver, restoring consumer freedom and protecting the many small businesses that operate auto dealerships,” said Vice Chair Delegate Kathy Szeliga. While the Governor’s executive order does not end Maryland’s alignment with California’s regulations, the Freedom Caucus believes this delay is a critical first step—and a direct result of their advocacy.
“We called for decisive action in January, and today we’re seeing the results,” said Delegate Robin Grammer. “Governor Moore’s delay is a clear admission that this mandate is unworkable, unaffordable, and unpopular.”
The Maryland Freedom Caucus says it will continue fighting until Maryland is “free from California’s regulatory shadow and vehicle choices are returned to Maryland drivers—not California bureaucrats.”
Photo via Pixabay
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